First Hydrogen-Powered train in the world launched in Germany

The first hydrogen-powered railway, introducing a more eco-friendly technology of transporting, was launched in Germany.

Hydrogen trains have fuel cells that produce power via a combination of Oxygen and Hydrogen, a procedure that emits only steam and water. The surplus energy is stored in lithium batteries. Hydrogen technology is currently costlier than diesel but its environmental footprint is beneficial for the planet. "Sure, buying a hydrogen train is somewhat more expensive than a diesel train, but it is cheaper to run," Stefan Schrank, the project's manager at Alstom, said.

The trains were built by French TGV-maker Alstom. The, so called, Coradia iLint trains have a range of 600 miles, similar to that of diesel trains when using a single tank of hydrogen. On 17 of September 2018 they began operating between the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany. This route is about 100km and until recently diesel trains were used.

Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge stated: "The world's first hydrogen train is entering into commercial service and is ready for serial production." Alstom plans to develop 14 more hydrogen-powered trains that will operate in Lower Saxony by 2021. Other countries including France, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark and Norway have expressed their will to acquire hydrogen-powered trains.